Six Indiana counties approved for federal aid

INDIANAPOLIS -- Local governments in six Indiana counties hit by tornadoes on Sept. 20 are eligible for federal aid to help cover public costs expected to exceed $8 million.\nMeanwhile, state and federal agencies on Tuesday opened five centers where storm victims can meet with aid officials.\nMore than 600 aid applications have been filed since the federal government last week approved a disaster declaration covering 32 Indiana counties, said Alden Taylor, a spokesman for the State Emergency Management Agency.\n"This is a lot of people right away," Taylor said. "But a lot of the people who were affected are still digging out and haven't applied."\nA trio of tornadoes on Sept. 20 destroyed nearly 500 homes and damaged 2,500 others across southern and central Indiana.\nLast week's disaster declaration made federal aid available for individuals and businesses.\nOn Monday, the state said that local governments in six counties -- Johnson, Knox, Marion, Monroe, Morgan and Posey -- were eligible for a federal program that reimburses governments for 75 percent of storm-related public costs. Other counties might be added if new information indicates further federal help is needed, the governor's office said.\nPublic costs include debris removal, emergency services and repair or replacement of roads, buildings and utilities.\nThose costs are projected to reach $8.4 million statewide, meaning local governments could receive around $6 million in federal reimbursement, Taylor said.\nThree of the disaster centers that opened Tuesday are in Marion County, with centers also opening in Martinsville of Morgan County and Ellettsville in Monroe County.\nRoving disaster centers will be temporarily set up in four other locations, Taylor said.\nThose locations are Wadesville in Posey County, from Wednesday through Saturday; Gaston in Delaware County, Wednesday through Thursday; Edgewood in Madison County, Friday through Saturday; and Monroe City in Knox County, Oct. 7 to Oct. 9.\nAt the centers, storm victims can ask questions and check the status of their aid applications.\nThe centers are intended to serve victims who already have applied for assistance via a toll-free Federal Emergency Management Agency phone number: (800) 621-3362 or (800) 462-7585 for the hearing and speech-impaired.